Question 1

Cutting asbestos corrugated sheets

Accepted Answer

I need to trim the overhang off some corrugated asbestos sheets which form the roof of my garage. I could do it with my 9" angle grinder, but it would no doubt generate a lot of asbestos dust, which I understand is hazardous.Can anyone give me any advice on how I should do it?Thank youJake

Question 2

Anyone else having problems with Duracell batteries?

Accepted Answer

From some of my devices, I am taking out Duracell batteries that I had installed back in 2003 and 2004 with no problems; yes, they used to be that good. I normally mark dates on the batteries with a black marker. The thing is, Duracell is not going back to be close to any of my devices. After replacing the older batteries, new Duracell batteries with power left in them, and within months of installation, have been leaking. So far the crappy Duracells have ruined the following items for me, both at home (h) and in the office (o); the prices for the damaged items are approximate to what they cost:  2 Small adding/printing Canon calculators (o) $15 both  1 TI-89 Calculator (h) $150  2 300g x0.01 g jewelry scales (o) $20 both  1 Craftsman Engine Analyzer (h) $130 or so  1 Gilmour Garden Watering Timer (h) $38  2 "9 LED" flashlights (h) $6 both  1 2D cell Maglite Flashlight (h) $35  1 3D cell Maglite Flashlight (o) $45  1 2AA cell Maglite flashlight (mom's) $20  1 Analog Multimeter (h) $20...

Question 3

water heating question

Accepted Answer

OK, I have a larger project in mind. I want to dig out the thin slab in my on-grade basement, put proper drainage in, insulation and vapor barrier, pour a concrete slab with PEX tubing in it for radiant floor heating. I also want to install radiant floor heat under the subfloor of the story above the basement (also PEX, with aluminum pieces around it). I will also be redoing the water piping, with copper tubing and hot water circulation for instant hot water.Now, the question comes about the water heater. I'm considering installing a heat-pump water heater, which would be installed outside in a proper shelter, so that it won't be "stealing" the heat from the conditioned basement that I'm trying to heat up :) I'm also thinking about supplement the system with a roof-mounted solar water heater panel for greater efficiency. Would such a system be feasible? and can I run the radiant floor heating system and hot water for bathing from the same heat pump/tank? I'm located in SF Bay area....

Question 4

How to get rid of houseflies?

Accepted Answer

For some reason we are suddenly inundated with houseflies.I have been swatting them as fast as I can, but they arestaying ahead of me. Is there some easy way to get rid ofthem?Houseflies have been a pest for years, but only one or twoat a time.  This time they are swarming, mostly around thewindows on the front of the house.Bill

Question 5

Grab Bars

Accepted Answer

Grab bars for the bathroom have come up here in the past.  Many of the regulars here are getting older, so, think about it!When we moved to this house a bit over six years ago, my wife was having some mobility issues so I had bars installed in the showers and the water closet.  I used them, but did not really need them.Fast forward to four weeks ago.  I was in an accident have have some injuries.  Sitting in the shower chair this morning, I was thinking, without the bars, I could not function properly in the bathroom.  Risk would be considerably greater.If you are over 60, think about adding them.  If you are over 60, don't think about it, just do it.  There are businesses that do this every day and know what you need.

Question 6

Hot melt glue sticks replacement

Accepted Answer

I recently bought a Loctite glue gun, rated at 15w(70w), temp 170degCThere are a lot of replacement sticks available at far lower coststhan the Loctite variety.  Some say 40w min.  Any reason to pay the higher price and what does 15w(70w) mean?

Question 7

Smoke detectors

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Never mind solving global warming issues! How the F.. do I get the covers off?Yes they are electrically disconnected, yes I have put a variety of screwdrivers in the slot as instructed.All I want to do is replace the batteries.

Question 8

How to fix broken fridge door seal?

Accepted Answer

I hope I can describe this well enough...My circa 2009 Kenmore (made by LG) refrigerator door has a plastic "hook" on both side-by-side doors that helps draw the door fully closed and sealed when it swings shut. The hook is part of a firm plastic springloaded "retainer" that runs vertically alongside the outward edge of the door, which also helps close the seal. This retainer is part of the whole door gasket assembly. The retainer has broken so that the hook is no longer attached. The hook is OK, it's the retainer that's broken. This video shows a similar LG model with exactly the same problem I have, except mine is the left door: bought what was supposed to be an OEM replacement retainer from Amazon. What I got is a poor copy of the original part and is miscut/misshapen so the hook can't be secured in place. Useless. Parts for this appliance seem to have mostly vanished from the earth and I can't find either the retainer only or the whole retainer-hook assembly like is shown in the...

Question 9

fridge/freezer temperature regulation

Accepted Answer

Hotpoint "frost free" fridge/freezer, single compressor, maybe 13ish years old.I've never bothered before to monitor temperatures, but having several £100 worth of fat jabs stored in there, decided I ought to buy a couple of LCD type min/max thermometers to check.The analogue thermostat is in the fridge compartment, it was on the low side so I've adjusted it and it's reasonably stable.  But the freezer compartment swings wildly from -12 to -34°C, is that normal, or a sign that it's showing its age and starting to struggle?

Question 10

Utility Cost

Accepted Answer

About 18 months ago my thermostat died.  It was replaced by a Honeywell that keeps temperature more accurate, but has some other features.  This is used with a heat pump.It has an app on the phone that I can use to change  or program it with, but, it also track hours run each day.In 2025, I used heat for 60 hours.  That was last Jan and Feb, nothing this season but Wednesday will be chilly.For cooling, it ran 1575 hours.  I keep the AC at 77 during the day, 75 at bedtime.  When I was away for 2 weeks, it was set to 80.Electric bill for the year $1015.  Heat, cooling, lighting. A bit less than the previous year.Gas is used for hot water, cooking, grilling, clothes dryer.  There is a monthly fee just to have the meter, $229 for the year, actual gas use $98.83.  This is for one person.I imagine I track things like that more than most people, but I'm curious about it.  Climate is west coast Florida.

Question 11

What size generator to handle water pressure booster pump surge current?

Accepted Answer

PG&E gave me a kit of a free Bluetti AC200P and Yeti 1500X battery plus a free backup power transfer meter and a 20-foot long thick NEMA L14-30 (30-amp, 120/240-V twist-lock) cable to connect a portable generator. But PG&E rebated only $300 dollars toward a portable generator that met their standards, so I bought the DuroMax XP5500EH which works fine except it blows the instant that the water pressure booster pump kicks on.The well water tanks are only a dozen or two dozen feet above the house so there's not enough head for more than a few psi of water pressure so there's a large blue pressure tank and a 220VAC pump that runs it. General Electric AC Motor Thermally Protected Jet Pump Motor Mod: 5KC39QN1157AX HP: 1 HZ: 60 V: 115/230 PH: 1 RPM: 3450 CODE: LThe problem is that the DuroMax 30-amp fast-blow breaker kicks off the instant the water pressure booster pump kicks on, even as the 30-amp slow-blow fuses on the PG&E proprietary cable never blow. What happens is the generator is...

Question 12

How do I fix deep scratches on a stainless steel fridge door?

Accepted Answer

My toddler just found a metal toy car and decided the front of our brand new brushed stainless fridge was the perfect place to practice his numbers. He literally etched a giant "67" right into the middle of the freezer door, and I am absolutely losing it beacuse the scratches go totally against the horizontal grain of the metal. You can see the silver shine thru the finish and it catches the light every time I walk into the kitchen.I've tried rubbing it with a soft cloth and some dish soap but obviously that did nothing for deep gouges like these. I'm terrified of using somethig abrasive like a green scrubby pad because I don't want to make a huge blurry spot that looks even worse than the numbers. Is there acutally a way to buff this out or do I have to live with a numbered fridge til we move? I heard about those repair kits with the sandpaper and oil but I'm scared I'll ruin the whole finish. Any advice would be a lifesaver.

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